NBC SPORTS GROUP PARTNERS WITH THOMAS KELLER AND HIS AWARD-WINNING BOUCHON BAKERY TO PROMOTE THE 2014 NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

Interactive Campaign to Deliver Puck Cake Desserts in Edible Brackets

STAMFORD, Conn. — April 15, 2014 — NBC Sports Group today announced an exclusive partnership with Chef Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bakery to celebrate the commencement of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, which begin on Wednesday, April 16 and will air across NBC, NBCSN, CNBC, and the NHL Network. NBC Sports Group collaborated with the celebrated bakery to conceive the “Puck Cake,” a limited-edition variation of Bouchon Bakery’s acclaimed MallowMore dessert.

NBC Sports Group and Bouchon Bakery will produce more than 6,500 of the hockey-puck-sized cakes, comprised of marshmallow and a shortbread cookie encased in a chocolate shell. Puck Cakes will be embellished with one of 18 unique, edible graphics representing the logos of the 16 NHL teams that qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the logo of NBC Sports or the logo of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Puck Cake desserts will be presented in a limited edition custom-designed NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs bracket box, which reflects the new playoff format for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and hand delivered to athletes, celebrity hockey fans and social influencers in key markets across the country. Each playoff team will also receive their own box of “Puck Cakes” from NBC Sports Group.

“We wanted to celebrate the postseason and help promote the new single elimination bracket format of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.” said John Miller, Chief Marketing Officer, NBC Sports Group. “Getting to collaborate with Thomas Keller on such a fun promotion was the icing on the cake.”

“Often our inspiration is in trying capture the memory of a favorite childhood food,” said Thomas Keller, Chef/Proprietor, Bouchon Bakery. “The Puck Cake is no different, as it reminds us of the classic mallomar and the nostalgia of those flavors we enjoyed while rooting for our favorite team.”

STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS ON TV

NBC Sports Group’s coverage of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs begins Wednesday night with a triple-header of first-round games, the first night of two months of Stanley Cup Playoffs hockey across NBC, NBCSN, CNBC and NHL Network. NBC Sports Live Extra – NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, and tablets – will live stream all games airing on NBC, NBCSN and CNBC, the vast majority via “TV Everywhere.”

Wednesday night’s Stanley Cup Playoffs coverage includes a doubleheader on NBCSN, beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET when Sidney Crosby and the Atlantic Division-champion (1) Pittsburgh Penguins host the (4) Columbus Blue Jackets. The action continues on NBCSN at 10 p.m. ET, as Ryan Getzlaf and the (1) Anaheim Ducks, who finished the regular season with the best record in the Western Conference, host Tyler Seguin and the (4) Dallas Stars at 10 p.m. ET. Coverage on CNBC begins at 7 p.m. ET when Steven Stamkos and the (2) Tampa Bay Lightning host the (3) Montreal Canadiens.